Optometrist asks for understanding, more time

Wednesday

Sep 11, 2013 at 7:26 AMSep 12, 2013 at 10:56 AM

RANDLEMAN — Dr. Danford Raynor feels beleaguered.

RANDLEMAN — Dr. Danford Raynor feels beleaguered.

He said in an interview Wednesday he is struggling every day to fix problems in his remaining Academy Eye Center offices in Biscoe, Randleman and Albemarle while dealing with the fallout from a divorce last year.

His problems are myriad. The Courier-Tribune reported Tuesday that Academy Eye Center offices in Biscoe and Randleman were closed. Raynor said the offices are not closed but did admit he is not seeing clients or taking new patients at these locations. He is still seeing patients at the Albemarle office. When people come in to ask for eyewear that has been paid for, Raynor said he cannot immediately make the purchase good.

He said he delegated management duties to people and third parties who let him down. The same is true, he said, of vendors he relied on to deliver merchandise and materials. Raynor said he cannot access client records that he said are in the possession of a third party but insisted patient information is secure.

He said, because he cannot access client files, every time someone comes in with a complaint, he has to recreate a patient file based on the information that patient provides.

“I am struggling to make sure I take care of every complaint,” he said. “My life is upside down. But I am going to continue to try to take care of this, even if it kills me.”

An employee working at Academy Eye Center in Randleman said Wednesday the local office never closed but the phones there haven’t worked in two weeks and added Raynor hasn’t been seen or heard from in that time.

The employee, who asked not to be identified, said people probably thought the local office was closed because of the lack of phone service. From the parking lot, the office looks deceptively dark which also may have contributed to reports that it was closed, the employee said.

The employee said few people are coming in and the practice is not accepting new patients. Those who do come in have complaints about the practice’s failure to deliver eyewear that has been paid for. Some paid in part or in full by cash; others filed through insurance providers who have also paid for products that have not been delivered.

The Randleman office has a lab for processing lens for eyeware. The employee said the lab is not in operation but that Raynor took lens trays with orders for three Academy Eye Center offices from the Randleman office two weeks ago with a promise to get the orders filled at offices belonging to family members who also work in the field of optometry.

The U.S. Department of Treasury has filed liens in 2013 against Academy Eye Center in Randolph, Montgomery and Davidson counties.

According to Noelle Talley, AG spokesperson, the AG’s Consumer Protection Division has received four complaints against Academy Eye Care this year. Three were about non-delivery of goods. The AG’s office was able to get the business to pay refunds. Talley reported Tuesday that her office has been informed by the fourth complainant that she has also recently received a refund.

Kerry Hall, N.C. Department of Insurance director of public information, said his office has been contacted by a lot of people who were former patients of Raynor. They have all been cases where the individual paid for glasses/contacts and never got them. However, the cases in question involve eyewear that was paid for in cash, Hall said.

“No insurance was involved, so they wouldn’t be cases we investigate,” he said. “These people should call local law enforcement or the AG’s office.”

Unofficially, several people have told The Courier-Tribune that they have filed complaints with the N.C. Board of Optometry. Dr. John Robinson, N.C. Board of Optometry director, would not confirm or deny that the board was looking into Raynor’s practice.

Raynor said he is trying to address every complaint that has been made to his offices. He said he does not know how many people have ordered and/or paid for product that has not been delivered. Raynor said he isn’t sure how much his remaining businesses are worth or even if he can continue to operate, given all of the legal action filed against him. He said he fears he could lose his license to practice.

“I know I have a higher power to answer to. I feel I have to stay in the trenches until all of the people who have complaints are taken care of,” he said. “I will not rest until it’s done.”